MLB Offseason Moves/Rumor Thread

[Hank Scorpio]

Capitalism stings sometimes, I guess.

But supply may be teetering a hair?

[Billy F-Face3]

1 hour ago, waroriole said:

Oh that’s interesting. I wish we hadn’t settled with everyone. Especially Mateo and OHearn. 

I don't understand why O'hearn gets so much hate on this message board. It's like these people never witnessed the success of the 2024 season.

[Billy F-Face3]

Just now, Billy F-Face3 said:

I don't understand why O'hearn gets so much hate on this message board. It's like these people never witnessed the success of the 2023 season.

2023 season

[NCRaven]

We see it.  Along with the rest of his career.

[forphase1]

1 hour ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

I don't understand why O'hearn gets so much hate on this message board. It's like these people never witnessed the success of the 2024 season.

It's really not that complicated.  He has a career .714 OPS.  Yes, it was .801 last year, BUT that was largely due to a great .867 OPS in the first half, while falling much closer to his career norm in the 2nd half, it being .756 OPS.  Then in August he has a .710 OPS and a .724 in Sept/Oct.  For me at least, I largely question who O'Hearn is.  Is he the guy who had a May/June/July of .937, .867 and .893?  Or did he simply have a SUPER 3 month hot streak, and then revert back to what he'd been for most of his career?  

I'm glad he helped the team so much in 2023.  But I'm not counting on him repeating his scorching hot 3 month run again in 2024, in fact I think it MUCH more likely we get a .700-.725 out of him.  

2023 was a magical year, but we also had a TON of things go right, including some journeymen like O'Hearn/Mateo get REALLY hot and carry the team at times.  Expecting them to repeat that in 2024 is as unlikely as Mullins regaining his 2021 production level.  We don't 'hate' O'Hearn, per se, we just aren't sold that he's someone we should pencil in for 300-400 at bats.  Not when we have more talented players waiting in the wings that would likely outproduce his career type numbers.  I hope O'Hearn has a VERY short leash this year.  

Edited March 12 by forphase1

[sportsfan8703]

1 hour ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

I don't understand why O'hearn gets so much hate on this message board. It's like these people never witnessed the success of the 2024 season.

He’s not homegrown. It’s the same thing with Mate and Urias. We’re not at the point yet to have all homegrown position players. We don’t want “prospects” that are still growing to be bench guys. Next year we may have all 13 position players be home grown. Back up C will be the hardest. Handley or Basallo. 

[forphase1]

1 hour ago, sportsfan8703 said:

He’s not homegrown. It’s the same thing with Mate and Urias. We’re not at the point yet to have all homegrown position players. We don’t want “prospects” that are still growing to be bench guys. Next year we may have all 13 position players be home grown. Back up C will be the hardest. Handley or Basallo. 

Who cares about them being homegrown?  It's about them having talent, or not, not about what team drafted or developed them.  I don't hear anyone complaining about McCann or Burnes, or saying they should be replaced by 'homegrown' guys immediately.  O'Hearn, Mateo and Urias just aren't that good.  THAT'S why I want them gone or on a VERY short leash.  It has nothing to do with them not being 'native' to the Os organization.  Geez.  

[Billy F-Face3]

Just now, forphase1 said:

Who cares about them being homegrown?  It's about them having talent, or not, not about what team drafted or developed them.  I don't hear anyone complaining about McCann or Burnes, or saying they should be replaced by 'homegrown' guys immediately.  O'Hearn, Mateo and Urias just aren't that good.  THAT'S why I want them gone or on a VERY short leash.  It has nothing to do with them not being 'native' to the Os organization.  Geez.  

Ryan O'Hearn had a .289 Average, an .801 OPS, 60 RBIs, 14 HRs, and 100 all in part time platoon work in 2023. If he had played full time that translates to All Star numbers. He was the only player in our lineup to carry the offense during some games. He's better than you're giving him credit for.

[deward]

1 hour ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

Ryan O'Hearn had a .289 Average, an .801 OPS, 60 RBIs, 14 HRs, and 100 all in part time platoon work in 2023. If he had played full time that translates to All Star numbers. He was the only player in our lineup to carry the offense during some games. He's better than you're giving him credit for.

His track record prior to 2023 strongly suggests that his results last year are an outlier and that he isn't actually that good. 

[dystopia]

2 hours ago, deward said:

His track record prior to 2023 strongly suggests that his results last year are an outlier and that he isn't actually that good. 

The Royals have been an inept organization recently, so keep that in mind. The O’s fixed some things with his swing, plus no shift helped. 

[Jagwar]

6 hours ago, forphase1 said:

...

2023 was a magical year, but we also had a TON of things go right, including some journeymen like O'Hearn/Mateo get REALLY hot and carry the team at times.  Expecting them to repeat that in 2024 is as unlikely as Mullins regaining his 2021 production level.  We don't 'hate' O'Hearn, per se, we just aren't sold that he's someone we should pencil in for 300-400 at bats.  Not when we have more talented players waiting in the wings that would likely outproduce his career type numbers.  I hope O'Hearn has a VERY short leash this year.  

You do realize we also had a lot of things go wrong too, and still won 101 games?

[Sports Guy]

I have some confidence in OHearn because he hits the ball hard and it wasn’t just 2023 either. Throughout his career he has had high Ev, barrel and hard hit%. He isn’t a huge strikeout guy and his chasing numbers haven’t been bad in his career.

He has less than 1450 PA in his career, going back to 2018. He averages an extra base hit every 12 PA.

Just to compare him to a few guys, Santander averages an XBH every 17 PA. Mountcastle is every 15 PA.

He has, generally speaking, been awful vs lefties in his career but surprisingly, he has 3 years of a sub 700 OPS vs righties.

The Bb rate was good his first 3 stints/years in the majors but awful since.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong vs righties. The batted ball stats are strong but his xBA is not.

Im good with him on the team to start. I don’t think you can really rely on him but I also think there is plenty there and plenty was shown last year to say, he should be here and he should play vs righties often until he shows last year was more of a fluke. I wouldn’t hesitate to give him a quick hook though. 

[forphase1]

3 hours ago, dystopia said:

The Royals have been an inept organization recently, so keep that in mind. The O’s fixed some things with his swing, plus no shift helped. 

But did we?  His numbers tumbled again in August and September.  Did we suddenly unfix his swing?  Or did they put the shift back in and I missed it?  All I'm saying is last year was a mixed bag... he had a few months where he was really good and hot and a few months where he was the same as when he was with the Royals.  Which is the real O'Hearn?  Or a mixture?  I don't think he has nearly enough of a track record of being good for us to count on him being a .800+ OPS hitter this year.   I'd love to see it,  but I far from expect it even think it's going to happen. 

[dystopia]

4 minutes ago, forphase1 said:

But did we?  His numbers tumbled again in August and September.  Did we suddenly unfix his swing?  Or did they put the shift back in and I missed it?  All I'm saying is last year was a mixed bag... he had a few months where he was really good and hot and a few months where he was the same as when he was with the Royals.  Which is the real O'Hearn?  Or a mixture?  I don't think he has nearly enough of a track record of being good for us to count on him being a .800+ OPS hitter this year.   I'd love to see it,  but I far from expect it even think it's going to happen. 

How many hitters put up .an 850 OPS every single month? That’s not how baseball works. 

[DirtyBird]

19 minutes ago, forphase1 said:

But did we?  His numbers tumbled again in August and September.  Did we suddenly unfix his swing?  Or did they put the shift back in and I missed it?  All I'm saying is last year was a mixed bag... he had a few months where he was really good and hot and a few months where he was the same as when he was with the Royals.  Which is the real O'Hearn?  Or a mixture?  I don't think he has nearly enough of a track record of being good for us to count on him being a .800+ OPS hitter this year.   I'd love to see it,  but I far from expect it even think it's going to happen. 

How many guys on the roster, or in contention for a roster spot, do you count on for an .800 OPS for the season?